2020 Season Outlook

The 2020 season will be unlike any the Georgia Bulldogs, or any other team, have seen before. With the fall portion of the season consisting of an eight-match slate against four Southeastern Conference opponents, the stakes are higher than ever to win every point.

The Bulldogs enter the 2020 season coming off their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013 a season ago. The Bulldogs finished with a 12-6 SEC record and eclipsed the 20-win mark for the second time under the direction of head coach Tom Black. This season will be Black’s fourth in the Classic City. Georgia’s roster consists of 18 student-athletes with nearly a perfect mix of classes. At the top is a veteran class of four senior student-athletes along with five juniors and five sophomores, and a fresh crop of four freshmen. The 18-member roster is the largest in the history of the program, so depth at every position will be a strength of the Bulldogs this season.

A highlight from a season ago was the Bulldogs’ offensive prowess. Georgia wrapped the season in fourth in both kills and assists per set in the SEC while registering a .232 team hitting percentage. SEC Freshman of the Year Kacie Evans was a top-10 kills performer during her rookie campaign and averaged 4.12 points per set. Senior Rachel Ritchie brings a veteran presence to the outside attack for Georgia. Ritchie is the latest to be inducted into Georgia’s 1,000Kill Club a season ago. The outside was bolstered with the addition of sophomore Louisville transfer Amber Stivrins in July. An ACC All-Freshman Team member a season ago, Stivrins helped guide the Cardinals to an Elite Eight run in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

A quartet of talented hitters will add weapons on

the opposite side for the Bulldogs this season. Juniors Kayla Rivera and Mallory Hernandez will be joined by underclassmen Meghan Froemming and Regan Tinkle in competing for time on the court in 2020. Rivera was also a blocking threat on the right side as a sophomore, tallying nearly half a block per set in 2019.

The graduation of All-SEC setter Meghan Donovan left one of the largest holes in Georgia’s offense heading into 2020. After stepping into a defensive role the last couple seasons, senior Brynn Chandler will transition back to running the offense this season. Fellow captain and redshirt-junior Dalaney Hans will aid Chandler in directing Georgia’s 6-2 offense. Redshirt-freshman Alexa Fortin could also see time setting the hitters this season.

A point of interest for Georgia in the offseason has been the defensive side of the game, starting with blocking. The veteran presence of redshirt-senior Kianna Young and junior Sage Naves in the middle will be backed up by fellow upperclassman Kaylah House and freshmen Phoebe Awoleye and Mackenzie Norris. Georgia’s blocking ranked last in the league a season ago and has been a point of emphasis for the coaching staff this offseason. Naves led the Bulldogs in the category last season while Young provided a strong offensive presence, tallying 2.45 kills per set, third most on the team. Awoleye is expected to not only be a defensive threat, but also an offensive one for the Bulldogs in the front row.

The Bulldogs’ back row saw the departure of libero Kendall Glover following her graduation in May. A trio of Bulldogs will all look to wear the libero jersey while also vying for time on the back line. Redshirtjunior Claire Rothenberger is the lone veteran on the Bulldogs’ defense, having served as libero in the past and appeared in every set in 2019, averaging nearly two digs per set. Sophomore Londyn Gray, who appeared in only three sets last season as a middle blocker, has made the transition to defensive specialist this season. Freshman Mallory Downing is expected to challenge the other two for playing time on the court.

2020 SCHEDULE

The Bulldogs welcome South Carolina to kick off the season Saturday, Oct. 17 followed by a match the next day, Sunday, Oct. 18, at Stegeman Coliseum.

Following a bye week, the Bulldogs then head to Knoxville for a pair of midweek matches against the Tennessee Lady Vols. Georgia and Tennessee will face off Wednesday, Oct. 28 and Thursday, Oct. 29.

Georgia’s final home matches of the fall will be Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8 against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

After another bye week, the Bulldogs travel to Gainesville, Florida for two matches against the Florida Gators Friday, Nov. 20 and Saturday, Nov. 21.

The week of Nov. 23-27 will be held for a makeup week, if needed. Matches selected to air on national television will be announced at a later date.

SEC volleyball teams will participate in spring competition as well, with details of formats contingent on final decisions by the NCAA to conduct spring championships.